Posts by scol

Posted by September 22, 2017Finance, Investment Options

Not sure what a surety bond is or why a particular construction company would use one? Find it out now.

If you are about to hire a construction company for a job, you may have heard that you should also make sure the company you hire has a surety bond.

Not sure what a surety bond is or why a particular construction company would use one?

If so, here is a quick explanation of the role of a surety bond as well as why a good construction company should never start a new job without one.

What are surety bonds? — This is an assurance that the company putting up the surety bond, usually an insurance company, believes the construction company you are going to hire is not only capable of doing the job but will also complete it in the time needed.

If this does not happen, the construction company collapses mid-way through the project or cannot complete it anywhere near the time you need, then the company issuing the surety bond pays for the completion of the project or the damages you have incurred.

Why do construction companies use surety bonds? — Most construction companies that use them do so because it gives the company a lot more legitimacy.

After all, with so many construction companies going bankrupt mid-way through jobs or not being able to complete them in the time needed, if a company has a surety bond it makes the would-be client much happier about hiring them.

With a surety bond, the construction company is also less likely to go bankrupt and more likely to complete the job on time and within the budget.

This is because, in order to be able to get a surety bond, most insurance companies ask for indemnification from the owner of the construction company. Once indemnification has been handed over, the company’s owner does not want to lose it so will do everything in his power to make sure the job is completed and under the specifications you wanted.

How can a surety company prevent a job from not being completed? — Another wonderful thing about a construction company with a surety bond is that the insurance company does not want anything bad to happen with the job either. If it does, they can lose a huge amount of money on a failed construction project.

So, if they do feel like the job has a chance of collapsing or the construction company going bankrupt, they will sometimes offer technical help to them to try to get them back on track.

If that does not work, they may send a construction manager to try to rein in the project and get it back in track. If all else fails, then an insurance company may even offer financial help as an incentive for the construction firm to finish the job.

What happens if the job or the construction company does collapse? — If the firm you have hired does go bankrupt or has problems completing your construction project, you should contact the insurance company that issued the surety bond.

They will then make sure the job gets completed in the manner that was first agreed upon.

Posted by September 1, 2017Finance

What is settlement risk and how can you make sure yours is limited?

If you are about to sign a contract with someone where foreign currency exchange is involved, you may be being told by a financial adviser that you need to look at the settlement risk of the agreement before you sign.

If you are not sure what settlement risk is, that can make signing the agreement a little more frustrating or confusing. Do not worry, though. Settlement risk is actually quite easy to explain and, if you believe you may be subjected to it, there is something you can do to limit that outcome.

What is settlement risk? — This is the idea that when you enter into a contract with someone, there is going to be a risk that at the end of the contract the settlement does not happen as agreed upon.

That can mean the person agreeing to pay you a certain amount does not pay or, if they do, they pay much later than agreed. When a late payment occurs, that can force you to extend credit to them you do not want to extend, or to be short of money yourself.

So how do you limit your settlement risk to ensure it does not happen?

Why is settlement risk the most dangerous when it comes to foreign currency exchange? — You are being warned about settlement risk as you are entering into an agreement that involves foreign currency exchange. The most risky of things when it comes to settlement risk.

Why is settlement risk so risky here? That is because if you hold up your end of the bargain and pay the money you are supposed to pay at the end of the contract, the money you pay will then be converted to the other person’s currency.

If they do not pay you the money they owe you in their currency, however, they get to keep the money you paid as it has already been exchanged but you do not get yours. This happens often when foreign currency exchange is involved as part of a contract.

What to do to lessen your settlement risk — There are many different financial services solutions that deal with settlement risk. For example, an easy solution, if you can get the other party to agree, is to send your payment through a bank that deals with settlement risk in particular.

This type of bank is set up so that payment is done in a different way than with a regular bank.

You pay the money you owe the other person as part of the agreed upon deal, and you pay it into that particular bank. The bank holds your money and does not pay out to the other person until their money is also in the bank. Both currencies are then exchanged at the same time and each person gets their money.

If the other person does not pay into the bank the amount of money they owe, then they do not get your money transferred into their currency. The money is then returned to you so that you do not lose that as well as the money that was not paid by the other person.

Posted by June 19, 2017Finance, Investment Options, Trading

Are There Legitimate HYIPs?

What are HYIP’s?

Before you can talk about whether HYIPs are legitimate or not, you need to first understand what it is. The acronym HYIP stands for, high yield investment program. A typical HYIP program will offer around one percent returns on investment, per day. In most cases, this type of program will be set up using a website, that may not be clear as to how exactly your money will be invested. Vagueness on the details is usually a hallmark of HYIPs. This is why you should be very careful, and do your due diligence before even considering investing in an HYIP. In a nutshell, an HYIP is just a fancy term for a pyramid scheme.

Of Pyramids and Investors

For those of you who do not know what a pyramid scheme is, the mechanics of it are quite simple. First, the investment “opportunity” is brought forward by a small group of people, or sometimes by a single person. Then, whoever joins the business will be required to bring more people to join them. Each subsequent enlistee will be placed under the person who brought them in. Everyone who joins the program after the first person will be required to pay a fee to the immediate person above them and so on and so forth until it trickles up to the person on top. Therefore, the earlier you join, the higher up you will be on the food chain, and the more money you will make. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that such a scheme not only can’t sustain itself for long, but the people who joined towards the end (most of them) will lose money.

Keeping it Legit

Are HYIP’s legal? Well, that depends on how you look at it. All HYIP’s are pyramid schemes, but not all pyramid schemes are not illegal. This has to do with fraud. If an HYIP is committing fraud, then it doesn’t matter what business they are in, it is illegal. They could be feeding the poor and tending to the sick, it won’t matter because fraud equals illegal. There have been legitimate businesses based on the pyramid scheme model for quite some time, even now.

But even in those cases, they are involved in a specific business, such as selling consumer goods like food or detergents and are not going around promising the moon to its investors, based on nothing. The difference is that a legitimate pyramid scheme is not only promising fairly high ROI, but they require people who join to sell products, from which a portion of profits moves upwards as seen in pyramid schemes. This is what makes them legal. In other words, it’s not just about pushing money up to the next person, which is what most HYIPs are.

How to Spot a Red Herring

First of all, use a monitoring website, like HYIP to check if a program is a scam, or actually paying. Before considering an HYIP there are a few things to look into. If an address is given make absolutely sure it is legit. Giving fake addresses is a common ploy of fake HYIP’s. See if they have any type of certification. If they do, make sure it is for real. In some countries, it is possible for anyone to purchase a certificate of incorporation for a small fee. Look for phone numbers, if one is provided, give them a call and ask them to give as much info about their company as possible.

Posted by June 6, 2017Finance, Investment Options, Trading

Trend Following is the Key to Success in Trading

Trendy Success and Trend Following in Trading

The boom in trading in global markets can be attributed to savvy traders who understand the concepts that create success. It would seem almost inevitable that traders would seek trends in B2B and B2C ventures that offer the ripple effect of increased revenue.

The markets consist of bear, bull and black swan trading, many of which include trend strategies that help to make trading rules more malleable to the needs of businesses and investors. This is true even in the more unpredictable black swan markets.

Trading philosophy allows markets and traders to participate in and dictate specificity of trades. Trend following requires a keen eye for seemingly superficial and insignificant changes and the ability to modulate these changes into increased revenue.

Trend Following and Investment Trading

The most successful financial traders are those who possess an innate sense of trend following. Knowing where to invest is part of trend following. Timing of trends also plays a key role in successful trading.

One major recommendation is to focus on trading habits of successful traders with longevity. For example, the world knows when Warren Buffet picks up on a trend, his investment savvy and prior successes are reliably astute. His trading prowess is substantiated by the constant reference to him as “The Oracle of Omaha.” His trading philosophy is based on the British born, Benjamin Graham, known in the trading world as, “The Father of Value Investing.”

In value investing, the basic philosophy espoused by Graham and followed by Buffet is to “look for securities with prices that are unjustifiably low based on their intrinsic worth.”

However, in value investing, trading trends are deeply embedded due to the fact that purchased securities may be underpriced, but have undergone basic analysis and various forms since these securities were first offered as IPOs.

The Basics of Trend Following in Trading

To fully understand the importance of trend following, it is necessary to study trend following habits of those who enjoy lower risk and higher ROI. For trend following experts in trading, lower risk and higher ROI is accomplished mainly through combining several features:

. People

. Trend systems

. Incontrovertible trading data

. Risk Analysis

People “watches” contribute to the success of trend following. People are investors who determine the ups or downs of global markets through buying and selling of various types of investments. For example, when investors suddenly begin to purchase stock in precious metals like gold, silver and copper, the trend following experts look for the reasons for these upsurges. If, on the other hand, stocks in oil suddenly begin to dip, this too requires study of the issues impacting the drop in market trading.

Trend Following in Global Markets

Stock exchanges are a good place to follow trends in trading. What many investors do is take a consortium view of international stock exchanges daily trading trends.

It may also be a good idea to take a consortium view of today’s trading experts. By following trends in international stock exchanges and trading experts, trend following is the key to success in trading.

Posted by April 24, 2017Finance

5 Tips for Using a Credit Card

Credit cards are a useful tool for both establishing credit and having emergency funds. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get caught up in unnecessary spending, which can rack up debt quickly. Use these 5 tips for using a credit card to enjoy the benefits for years to come.

 

Avoid Using Credit Cards for Cash Advances

While the available funds can often be handy, using your credit card at the ATM is significantly more expensive than using your card directly. In many cases, not only do you pay interest on the cash you withdraw, but you’ll most likely pay an ATM fee as well. These withdrawals can add up quickly, and have you paying far more for cash than just your card’s interest rate.

 

Pay off Your Balance Whenever Possible

At the end of each payment cycle, usually 30 days, the interest of your balance is applied. If you pay off your balance in full each month, there is no interest to be applied. This not only gives you a stellar credit rating, but allows you to have the credit card balance available to you in times of emergency.

 

Limit Your Use of a Credit Card

If you’re establishing or re-building your credit, limiting your purchases is a great way to keep the card in good standing. Consider using your card for necessities like gas or your cell phone bill. This keeps your balance rotating. At all costs, you should avoid using a credit card to treat yourself. Buying TV’s, computers and other expensive items that you wouldn’t be able to normally afford can leave you strapped when it’s time to pay the bill. The end result is interest fees that make your purchase even more expensive than originally presumed.

 

Try to Keep Your Balance at Less than 40% of Your Credit Limit

Credit bureaus looks at several factors to determine your credit score. The ability to consistently make payments and keep your balance low is one of the easiest ways to establish or improve your credit. Ideally, the major credit bureaus recommend that you keep your balance to 30-40% of your total available credit.

 

Always Keep Tabs on Your Account

The convenience of automatic payments is one that can cause us to lose sight of our account security. If your card number is stolen or ripped off a card reader, failure to keep an eye on your account could mean months before you see any issues. By the time you notice credit card fraud, it may be too late to report it to your credit card company. Check your card account with your banking institution at least once per week to maintain a vigil eye on the activity and prevent fraudsters from ruining your well-established credit.

 

A credit card should, under no circumstances, be considered “free money”. Not paying your credit card can leave you with more debt than expected, as well as relentless calls from collection agencies. Use a card wisely and you’ll find that you’ll have a higher balance available, and a credit score that sets you up for future decisions like automotive and home purchases.

Posted by December 13, 2016Finance, Investment Options, Trading

Trends in Forex Trading

Trends in forex trading are a very simple forex strategy that helps the traders to estimate the price movements of a currency pair. It helps in estimating appropriate entry and exit points for a currency pair. Trend trading is being used by the forex traders at all levels for successful trades.
When you collect all the data points from the past and plot them into the chart, you start seeing a direction in which the currency prices are heading towards. This is called the trend in forex which lets you estimate the prices of currency in the future based on the analysis of past currency movements.

Types of the trend:

There are basically three types of trends that are seen in the forex market, i.e. uptrend, downtrend, and sideways/horizontal trend.

Uptrend: It is a series of the escalating highs and lows. In an uptrend, each successive low must not fall below the last lowest point. Otherwise, it is considered a reversal;

Downtrend: it is a series of the descending highs and lows;

Sideways/Horizontal trend: It occurs when there is very less movement up and down in the peaks and troughs. Some experts believe that is rather not a trend since it does not show any direction or movement.

Apart from the type of trend based on direction, it can be a long-term trend, or an intermediate trend, or a short-term trend.  The long-term and intermediate trend is a collection of various short-term trends.

Trendlines:

Trendlines are the lines which are used to define the trend in a currency pair. It is basically a charting technique. It is trendline only that helps us to identify the trend accurately, especially in the case of reversals, trendlines are helpful for easy identification. Trendlines help the traders to successfully estimates the points at which the currency pair shall move upwards or downwards.

There are many benefits of trend trading in forex. But, you need to learn how to identify and understand trends to take profitable decisions instead of losing money by investing against the trends. Trend trading helps you escape out a bad trading strategy only if you study the trends accurately. Moreover, studying trends in different currency pair help you identify currencies with better pips available. Trade in currency pair that has strongest trends to earn more profit. That’s the reason trend trading is so popular.

Posted by December 5, 2016Finance, Investment Options, Trading

How to succeed in forex trading

If you can earn big by trading in forex, then there are equivalent chances than you can also lose big. There are no golden rules that can be learned to become a successful forex trader. Trading in forex is an art that gets better with patience and practice over the period. So, you also need to invest your time in learning as well, with money to master the art of forex trading.

Here are some of the tips that can help you become a successful forex trader:

  • Identify yourself:

Before just jumping into the forex market and start trading, you need to identify yourself, i.e. your financial goals that you need to achieve with forex trading and determining your risk tolerance. This will help you estimate the amount of money that you are ready to invest in forex market comfortably based on your risk appetite even if you lose it.

  • Make a master plan:

You need to create a definite plan that will list how much time you will invest in learning, at what point you will start trading, when will you consider pulling out of the market when you are losing money and much more. Do not just create a plan you need to stick to it, so that you have defined an action plan.

  • Invest time in learning:

Forex trading is not a rocket science that cannot be learned. In fact, it is very easy to learn with just a few things that you should know. At least try learning the basics first before you start trading in the market. There is ample of material available over the internet and offline also that you can use.

  • Go slow:

Forex trading is a risky affair with equivalent chances of losing and gaining the money. So, do not rush and take small steps at a time. Do not invest too big amounts at one time and define the exit points where you will pull out of trade in case you are losing money to minimize the losses. Also, consider a secondary earning option apart from forex trading to safeguard yourself from huge financial disasters.

  • Keep yourself informed:

You need to keep yourself informed about the various factors that affect the prices of the currencies in the market. It can be economic conditions, political conditions, or any natural disasters that can bring a change in the currency movements. So, you need to be updated about all the market news so that any profitable opportunity does not go unnoticed.

  • Keep a trade journal:

Making a note of all your trades in a journal whether it was profitable or not. This will help you study the strategies that you followed in the past which results into profit as well as losses and help you learn from your own mistakes as well as successes.

  • Be patient:

Patience is key to success in forex trading. It takes some time to gain an understanding of all the aspects of the markets. Also, do not just lose heart and stop trading if you are just losing money. Rather, hold yourself up again and restart with newer strategies.

 

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